East Asia

2. – A group of people or traders traveling together, often across deserts, for safety and trade.
5. – A belief system that spirits exist in natural objects like trees, rivers, and mountains.
7. – Members of the warrior class in feudal Japan.
9. Wall of China – A long defensive wall built to protect China from invasions.
12. – A philosophy based on the teachings of Confucius, emphasizing respect, family loyalty, education, and social harmony.
13. Desert – A large, cold desert in northern China and southern Mongolia.
14. – Powerful, family-controlled business conglomerates in pre–World War II Japan.
15. rate – The average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.

1. – A chain or group of islands (Japan and Indonesia are classic examples).
3. – An agreement by opposing sides to stop fighting; it does not officially end a war.
4. – Related to the sea; maritime countries rely heavily on oceans for trade and transportation.
6. – The military ruler of Japan who held real power while the emperor was a figurehead.
8. zone – An area where military forces are not allowed (the DMZ between North and South Korea is the most famous).
10. of Fire – A horseshoe-shaped zone around the Pacific Ocean with frequent earthquakes and volcanoes.
11. Plateau – A high, flat region in Central Asia, often called “the Roof of the World.”